ORIGINAL POETRY.

LOVE LETTERS.

BY ROWLAND BROWN.

As Snowdrops come to a wintry world like angels in the night,

And we see not the hand who has sent us them, though they give us a strange delight;

And strong as the dew to freshen the flower, or quicken the slumbering seed,

Are those little things called "Letters of Love" to hearts that comfort need;

When alone in the world, amidst toil and sin, Their still small voices wake music within. They come, they come, these letters of love, blessing and being blest,

To silence fear with thoughts of cheer, that give to the weary rest!

A mother looks out on the angry sea, with a yearning heart in vain,

And a father sits musing over the fire, as he heareth the wind and the rain;

And a sister sits singing a favourite song, unsung for a long, long while,

Till it brings the thought, with a tear to her eyes, of a brother's vanished smile;

And with hearts and eyes more full than them all,

Two lovers look forth for these blessings to fall; And they come, they come, these letters of love, blessing and being blest,

To silence fear with thoughts of cheer, that give to the weary rest!

Oh! never may we be so lonely in life, so ruin'd and lost to love,

That never an olive-branch comes from our ark of home from some cherished dove;

And never may we in happiest hours, or when our prayers ascend,

Feel that our hearts have grown too cold for a

thought on an absent friend;

For like summer showers to the fainting flowers, They are stars to the heart in its darkest hours; And they come, they come, these letters of love, blessing and being blest,

To silence fear with thoughts of cheer, that give to the weary rest!

I HAIL thy birth stern Winter's timid child,
That peepest forth 'mid sleet and drifting snow,
Thy virgin form to nipping gales that blow;
And wanton shriek on yon rude-ravag'd wild.
Clad in soft grace and spotless purity
Thou seem'st to smile like Innocence at Fate
Beneath their idle rage; no ray o'er thee
Its genial warmth bestows; no cushat's mate
Doth pitying deplore thy barren lot.
Yet thou art dear, for thee I joyful mark

The harbinger of scenes, when o'er my cot
Enamour'd of the dawn, the fervent lark
Shall pour his thrilling lay, and woodlands ring
With praises to the ever-bounteous Spring!
A. C. M. JELLICOE.

WINTER WILL NOT LAST FOR EVER. WINTER Will not last for ever, Spring will soon come forth again, And with flowers of every colour, Deck the hill-side and the plain; Lambs will soon in fields be sporting, Birds re-echo from each tree, "Winter's gone! its days are ended! We are happy, we are free!" Hedge and tree will soon be budding, Soon with leaves be covered o'er; Winter CANNOT last for ever! Brighter days are yet in store! Sorrows will not last for ever, Brighter times will come again, Joy our every grief succeeding As the sunshine after rain; As the snow and ice of winter, Melt at the approach of spring, So will all our cares and trials, Joy, and peace, and comfort bring. When the heart is sad and drooping, Think, tho' you be vexed sore, Sorrows CANNOT last for ever! Brighter days are yet in store!

THE DEW DROPS. ONE beautiful morning, Two children were playing, And gaily with flowers,

G. W. R.

Themselves were arraying;
Their laugh was full of youthful glee,
And echo caught it merrily.

"Dear sister," cried Clara,
"Come hither, and see,
How brightly the dew drops
Shine over the lea;

Oh, tell me where they come from, love,
And who can bring them from above?"
The other stood silent,

A moment t'would seem,
Then intelligence brightened

Her eyes' gentle beam.

"They're tears," she answered, "angels shed, Because the pretty flowers lie dead."

SPRING.

DAISY H.

HAIL, gentle Spring! at thy command,
Once more the flowers appear,
To deck thy fair and smiling brows,
Thou darling of the year!

At thy command stern Winter flies,
And snaps his icy chain,
And while retreating, almost smiles,
To welcome thee again.
Rude Boreas too, at thy approach,
Gives place to zephyrs fair;
And butterflies of thousand hues,
Float through the balmy air.
The fields bedecked with garlands bright,
Breathe odours sweet of Spring;
And birds and tiny insect tribes,
Their humble anthems sing.
Rejoicing for the happiness
Of those fair sunny days,
The whole creation seems to join,
To hymn its Maker's praise.

CERTAIN CURE FOR BRONCHITIS. We extract the following letter addressed to the Editor of the Morning Post:

"Sir, The prevalence of the above and other severe diseases of the throat and chest, induce me to acquaint you with a certain cure of the simplest kind, with which, if I had been aware of the illness of the late Emperor of Russia, and that of the late Lady Stratheden, their lives might have been saved by a telegram or a post-letter.

"Only last Monday I saw a widow lady who had lost her voice for three months, and was in the depth of despair, under the apprehension, not only that her voice would never return, but that she was near leaving her six young children orphans and unprotected. On my recommending my remedy, she did not reject it upon the consolation that she was "under the doctor's hands," but immediately sent her little girl with a halfpenny to procure the article. I saw her again on Wednesday morning, when she told me in her natural voice, and with raptures of joy, that she was cured! On the same day I sent a recommendation of the same remedy to another lady, who, with her daughter, were then laid up, and had lost a relative only a fortnight before with the same complaint. I had the pleasure to hear the next morning that they both had sleep, which they had not had before for several nights.

I never knew this remedy fail with young or old; but as it is so very cheap and innocent, I think it superfluous to refer to more cases, and will therefore only name the article, which is the common saltpetre, to be had at the oil-shop, and one halfpenny-worth of which is sufficient to cure any individual. The way to take it is to suck ita small lump at a time-and swallow it as it dissolves.-1 am, Sir, yours respectfully,

"BLANEY BLANCHE COBBETT.

66 Queen's Prison, April 7."

[Half a teaspoonful dissolved in a wine-glass of water, and used as a gargle, is certainly safer, and quite as effectual.-ED.]

BARLEY WATER.-One ounce of pearl barley, half-an-ounce of white sugar, and the rind of a lemon; put it into a jug. Pour upon it one quart of boiling water, and let it stand for eight or ten hours; then strain off the liquor, adding a slice of lemon, if desirable. This infusion makes a most delicious and nutritious beverage, and will be grateful to persons who cannot drink the horrid decoction usually given. It is an admirable basis for lemonade, negus, or weak punch, a glass of rum being the proportion for a quart.

TO POLISH PLATE.

FOR polishing plate 'tis essential to get
Some whitening, and water to make it quite wet;
Place this on the metal and when it is dry,
To dislodge the said powder, the hardbrush apply.
After this take a leather-one perfectly clean-
And rub till there is not a spot to be seen.
Having tried many methods, I firmly maintain,
The above is the best of the whole-being plain.
G. M. F. G.

RECEIPT FOR MENDING GLASS OR CHINA.thin paste; put it on the edges of the pieces, then join them, and leave till dry.-S. A. W. M. ROSE WATER.

WHEN the bushes of roses are full,
As most of them are about June,
"Tis high time to gather, or pull
The leaves of the flowers. As soon
As you've picked all you need for the time,
To each quart of water unite

A peck of the leaves, which, if prime-
And they will be if plucked off aright-
May be placed in a still near at hand,
On a very slow fire. When done
Bottle off, and permit it to stand
For three days, ere you cork down each one.
G. M. F. G.

BREAD POWDERS.

Bread Powder.-It is now three or four years since various mixtures came into general notice for producing fermentation without yeast. We do not suppose it will ever be generally used for the production of a large quantity of bread; but it is an article to be by no means despised in cookery. One recommendation is, that anything may be made with it with very little time and trouble: it will make

Beautiful fancy loaves, by mixing one tablespoonful of bread powder with two pounds of flour, and making with cold water into a stiff dough; also

A delicate white bun. Half a pound of butter worked to a cream; three quarters of a pound of powdered loaf sugar, one pound of flour, a dessert spoonful of bread powder, and a little nutmeg. Let these be thoroughly mixed each in the turn they are mentioned, and add milk to make it moist enough for buns, which should be put into a quick oven at once, and about ten minutes will bake them. Sugar as cheap as the finest moist may often be bought as "lump-dust," and it serves very well for such purposes without the trouble of crushing.

Hasty dumplings may also be made in two minutes superior to the common dough dumplings, by simply adding half a tablespoonful of bread powder to one pound of flour and mixing with water, being careful not to make them too wet. These served up very hot with melted butter and sugar, form a pleasant and occasionally a convenient change in the pudding way; but we do not recommend the frequent use of any boiled dumpling for very young children or persons of weak digestion.

Cakes also, whether plain or plum, are made with much less trouble by substituting bread powder for yeast. Indeed it has become to some an almost necessary addition to the cookingboard, a small pinch mixed in the dry flour for pie-crust lightens it very much. The use of it is generally more suitable for anything to be baked than boiled, and anything made with it should be put into the oven as soon as possible. Chemists have different modes of preparing it: in all large towns some chemist can be found who would prepare it at a reasonable price.

WILD FLOWERS.

Ladies are requested to keep in a single line on either side of the street, walking in succession one after the other, in order that there may be a possibility of passing them without the danger of being entangled in their clothes.

Somebody says that a friend of his carries his sense of honour so far as to spend all his time in perfect idleness, because he does not even like to take advantage of time.

"Amelia, for thee-yes, at thy command I'd tear this eternal firmament into a thousand fragments; I'd gather the stars, one by one, as they tumbled from the regions of etherial space, and put them in my trowsers' pocket; I'd pluck the sun, that oriental god of day that traverses the blue arch of heaven in such majestic splendourI'd tear him from the sky and quench its bright effulgence in the fountain of my eternal love for thee!" "Don't, Henry, it would be so very dark." A HIGH RENT.-A hole in the crown of your bad hat.

"That's a flame of mine," as the bellows said to the fire.

The man who was hemmed in by a crowd has been troubled with a stitch in his side ever since. We suppose that a man who never speaks may be said always to keep his word.

"Well, farmer, you told us your place was a good place for hunting; now, we have tramped it for three hours and found no game." "Just so, I calculate, as a general thing, the less game there is, the more hunting you have."

"Will you be a second?" said a gentleman, who proposed to fight a duel. 'No, indeed, for you wouldn't stand a second yourself."

The landlord of a hotel at Brighton entered in an angry mood the sleeping apartment of a boarder, and said-"Now, sir, I want you to pay your bill, and you must. I've asked you for it often enough; and I tell you now, that you don't leave my house till you pay it!" "Good!" said the lodger, "just put that in writing; make a regular agreement of it; I'll stay with you as long as I live!"

Mr. Bannister, passing by a house which had been almost consumed by fire, inquired whose it was. Being told it was a hatter's, "Ah," said he, "then the loss will be felt."

Daniel Purcell, the famous punster, being desired one night, in company, to make a pun extempore, asked, "Upon what subject ?" "The King," was the answer. "O, Sir," replied Daniel, "the King is not a subject."

An Irishman, being asked why he wore his stockings wrong side out, replied, "Because there is a hole on the ither side ov 'em."

An Irish paper, describing a late duel, says, "that one of the combatants was shot through the fleshy part of the thigh bone."

CULTIVATED FLOWERS.

PEACE AND WAR.- Peace is that beautiful essence which flows undisturbedly from the pure and generous heart, and which so religiously says, "Though my neighbour offend me seventy times seven, yet do I freely forgive him." But war is a barbarous game of merchandise-murder which says, "My neighbour has slightly offended me, therefore must I inflict upon him the punishment of Cain ?"

A WORD TO THE OVER SENSITIVE.-A. strikes me with a sword and inflicts a wound. Suppose, instead of binding up the wound, I am showing it to everybody; and after it has been bound up, I am taking off the bandage continually, and examining the depth of the wound, and making it fester till my limb becomes greatly inflamed, and my general system is materially affected-is there a person who would not call me a fool? Now such a fool is he who, by dwelling upon little injuries and insults, or provocations, causes them to agitate or inflame the mind. How much better were it to put a bandage over the wound, and never look at it again.

SECRET OF COMFORT. Though sometimes small evils, like invisible insects, inflict pain, and a single hair may stop a vast machine, yet the chief secret of comfort lies in not suffering trifles to vex one, and in prudently cultivating an undergrowth of small pleasures, since very few great ones, alas! are let on long leases.

IDLENESS.-Beware of idleness; the listless idleness that lounges and reads without the severity of study; the active idleness for ever busy about matters nelther very difficult nor very valuable.

PEACE OF MIND.-Though peace of mind does not constitute happiness, happiness cannot exist without it, our serenity being the result of our own exertions, while our happiness is dependent on others; hence the reason why it is so rare; for, on how few can we count! Our wisdom, therefore, is best shown in cultivating all that leads to the preservation of this negative blessing, which, while we possess it, will prevent us from becoming wholly wretched.

DECEIVERS. We are born to deceive or be deceived. In one of those classes we must be numbered; but our self-respect is dependent on our selection. The practice of deception generally secures its own punishments; for callous indeed must be that mind which is insensible of ignominy. But he who has been duped is conscious, even in the very moment that he detects the imposition, of his proud superiority to one who can stoop to the adoption of so foul and sorry a course. The really good and high-minded, therefore, are seldom provoked by the discovery of deception; though the cunning and artful resent it as a humiliating triumph obtained over them in their own vocations.

PROMISE AND PERFORMANCE.-I had rather do and not promise, than promise and not do.

REAL WORK.-It is better to accomplish perfectly a very small amount of work than to half do ten times as much.

EASY WORK.-The easiest of all work is selfdeception.

FAMILY COUNCIL.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN OF THE COUNCIL.The subject of last month's letter, although a very useful one, did not admit of much display of talent. Let us say that you have made the most of it. The Definitions are better than some of the past, but not equal to others.

In drawing the attention of the Council to our Game or Exercise of "CONGLOMERATIONS," (see Appendix, p. 9,) we beg to announce that we intend to alternate this interesting piece of Pastime with our Letters; for we must have some consideration for the leisure of our friends, and not unreasonably overtask it with mental work.

We earnestly invite the attention of the Council to this new exercise, which will be found a very useful one, and afford a pleasing relief to the Composition of Letters. Next month the Letter Writing Council will be duly convened.

LETTER OF INTRODUCTION FOR A FRIEND IN THE COUNTRY TO PRESENT TO ANOTHER IN TOWN.

MY DEAR GRISELDA

You will not, I think, consider me presuming if I endeavour to solicit your kindness and indulgence on the behalf of a young friend who from childhood has grown up beneath my eye. Knowing and esteeming you of old, I am well aware of the existence of that kind heart to which I have never yet applied in vain.

Percy Lewis, in whose welfare I wish to awaken your interest, is the eldest son of a dear friend in our village. He has arrived at that age, when I believe all young men, more or less, become weary of their lives in a country village, and are anxious to see more of the world than the limited confines of their native place will allow. Having known Percy so long; I can assure you that though still so young, he is worthy of your deepest respect and love, if his feelings only be engaged you will not find a warmer friend amongst all your acquaintances.

I have the greatest confidence in his integrity and honour, yet in a situation such as he is about to take, temptations must assail him at every step. As a safe-guard against these, will you let him feel that he is welcome at your house, and in the pure atmosphere of your home find friends amongst your children, that will not oblige him to depend upon strangers for companionship.

If I could have solicited your interest for a son of my own, I feel certain just such a welcome as you would have given him.

this

Receive Percy, then, dear Griselda, as mine, for such he has been to me during my residence at Merriton.

If you need any stronger incentive than the remembrance of our old friendship, believe that every look or word of love you may bestow is registered above, and God is well pleased with every act of kindness towards a stranger, "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my bretheren, ye have done it unto me," Believe me, Ever, your affectionate friend,

SNOW.

MY DEAR SIR

inconie.

I have been induced to write to you, to introduce to you the young lady who will present this letter, knowing you will do me the favour of exerting yourself in her behalf. She is a dear and valued friend of mine, and I have engaged with her many hours of delightful intercourse, for her amiability of temper added to high intellectual attainment and superiority of mind, make her a companion to be loved and appreciated. From wealthy independence, her family has by reverse of fortune, little remaining for support, and she has at once overcome all scruples and fear of struggling alone the wide world, and nobly determined to do something to increase their scanty We have together discussed the most feasible means of so doing, well weighing the matter in all points, and have decided on her trying to gain a school in the metropolis or its suburbs. The guardians who have managed their property, have saved from the wreck a small sum for each member of the family, and my friend resolves to embark hers in taking and furnishing a house for the above purpose. I have, my dear Sir, briefly stated her great need of a friend, knowing that you would feel a delicacy in asking, and she in explaining her position to you, and being satisfied that her want will be supplied by one who has an extensive influence and philanthropic I have no fear for her benevolence to exercise it, success, for she possesses great energy and perseverance, valuable attributes indeed, and places besides, such unwavering faith and confidence in her Heavenly Father, who will bless her in the day of her need.

Trusting I have not presumed too far on your kindness, and wishing you every prosperity, Believe me, Yours truly,

CONSOLATION.

ETHOL.

Sympathising with a friend in trouble.-NARISSA.

"Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow."-R. D.

When the loved one has departed from us to feel that we have done our duty.-J. C. L. The chords that are tuned in sympathy with the mourner's sighs.-M. W M.

A rainbow in the sky of sorrow.-A. C. M. J. Never mind, it's nobody's fault but your own.A. D. V.

A wounded soldier in the battle of life, forgetting his foes in the thought of a divine physician.— W. Y. S.

The mercy of heaven reflected in a life of goodness.-J. C.

The charm of Christianity which kindles light out of the gloom of suffering.-J. T.

The houseless one seeing the minnow in the brook, and feeling that God will give him too a fitting home.-ELSPIE.

The silver lining to a cloud of sorrow.-A. DE YOUNGE.

Never mind it might have been worse.-Ro

LANDO.

Hope's fitful gleam.-LIZZY MY.

I couldn't help it.-H. A. J.

To hear that one's rival has been rejected.W. H. H.